Three ecumenical groups meet each week to study the Bible

This article submitted by Linda Stelling on 2/10/98.
Once a week, three groups of individuals join together to chat about the weekís activities, catch up on old times and to study the word of the Bible.

Paynesville has three ecumenical Bible study groups which meet weekly. The oldest or longest running of the three groups meets at the Paynesville Area Senior Center. According to Lucille Lindh, that group has been meeting 25 years. Another group, meeting at 700 Stearns Place, has been there nine years and the Green Wing Estates Bible study has been meeting more than 17 years.All three groups started out meeting in various homes of those attending.

700 Stearns PlaceLucille Dahlman leads the Bible study at 700 Stearns every Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the dining room. They originally started in the library, but outgrew the space. They have had as many as 20 residents of 700 Stearns attending their Bible study sessions.

The group started on the book of Luke in September and are only on chapter 13. The group only meets from September until May.

ďFences are knocked down as we are not here under any church affiliation, only to study the word of God,Ē Dahlman said. ďWe have a very understanding group with more than six church denominations represented.Ē

Senior Center Bible StudyLucille Lindh has been leading the Bible study at the Paynesville Area Senior Center for 25 years. ďWe started out in the homes, then at Hill Top Restaurant, and for the last three years, we have been meeting at the center,Ē she said.

The ladies started meeting weekly as a prayer group to pray for their children and various family members. ďAt our first meeting we had five present,Ē Lindh said.

The group meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m., year-round ďWe average anywhere from eight to ten people each week,Ē Lindh said. Over the years there have been about 80 different people attending the weekly sessions from Paynesville and area towns.

ďWe pretty much just use the Bible in our lessons,Ē Lorraine Adams said. ďWe have been through the New Testament at least twice verse by verse. In addition, we have completed several books of the Old Testament.Ē At present the ladies are on the book of Galatians, chapter five.

Green Wing Estates Bible StudyEdith Eades and Doris Nehring have been attending the Bible study at Green Wing Estates for many years.

The group averages 10 to 12 ladies every week in the community room at Green Wing Estates. Residents of Evergreen Court also are a part of the Bible study.

Nehring leads the Bible study. Among the leaders over the years have been Lorraine Kurtz and Rev. Earl Werner. Linda Jensen helps Nehring out whenever she canít be in attendance. ďWe are a close knit family. What we share at the Bible studies does not go beyond the room. When one of us hurts, we all hurt...when one of us is happy, we are all happy. It is a wonderful feeling,Ē she added.

Nehring said they have gone through the Bible three times since the group was started. The group is presently studying the book of Hebrews.